- Charlie Mitchell is the first Black Chef in NYC with a Michelin Star.
- As the executive chef at Brooklyn's Clover Hill, he cooks a lot of seafood.
Chef Charlie Mitchell is an award-winning chef who made history in 2022 as the first black Michelin-starred chef in New York City.
Mitchell, 31, is the cofounder and executive chef of Clover Hill, a restaurant in Brooklyn Heights. Clover Hill is a fine-dining restaurant that seats 26 people and has an eight-course menu for $265 which is seasonal and often features seafood.
As a seafood expert, Insider asked Mitchell what cooking advice he'd give to home chefs, especially when it comes to preparing seafood.
The biggest mistake Mitchell sees is overcooking seafood, which he says you can avoid with 3 easy tips
"I think that's probably the most common thing that people at home are doing, just overcooking their seafood way too much," Mitchell told Insider.
He added that the best thing home chefs can do is watch how much heat they're using on their stovetop as well as how long they're letting the fish cook. Mitchell said to be careful because the meat will become "very, very firm" if you're not paying attention.
The second tip is paying attention to color. Mitchell says shellfish like lobsters and crabs usually turn red when they're finished, while mollusks like clams or muscles open when they're thoroughly cooked.
And if your fish meat starts turning very white, "that means you're cooking it way too much," Mitchell said.
His last tip? That's easy. Don't forget to add "lots of butter," Mitchell said.